Planargia and Montiferru · Provincia di Oristano

Things to do in Scano di Montiferro

Things to do in Scano di Montiferro, Sardinia: Nuracale nuraghe, Sant'Antioco springs, old watermills, Montiferru woods, olive oil and traditions.

Scano di Montiferro, Sardegna — © Leop81 at Italian Wikipedia · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

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Scano di Montiferro (Iscanu in Sardinian) is a village of around 1,400 people sitting at about 380 metres on the northern slopes of the Montiferru, an ancient volcanic massif in west-central Sardinia. Surrounded by olive groves, holm oak and cork oak woods and generous springs, it offers impressive nuraghi (Bronze Age stone towers), a line of old watermills unique on the island and living traditions. It is a great pick for lovers of nature, archaeology and authentic villages, with the sea of Bosa and the Planargia coast about half an hour away by car.

What to see in Scano di Montiferro

Old town and churches

In the village, look for the parish church of San Pietro, the patron saint, with its old wooden statue, the 15th-century bell tower of the Rosario oratory and the 17th-century façade of San Nicolò. The country churches of Santa Croce and San Giorgio crown two hills overlooking the village, and the sanctuary of Santa Barbara lies about 2 km away.

Sant'Antioco and its springs

The country church of Sant'Antioco, built in 1636 with lodgings for pilgrims, is the most elaborate in the area. Next to it rise the Sant'Antioco springs, among the richest in Sardinia: they feed the local water supply and once powered the mills.

The watermill trail

Along the stream several old watermills survive, with horizontal and vertical wheels: a rare glimpse of pre-industrial life that you can explore on foot.

Nuraghi

Dozens of nuraghi dot the territory. The most important is Nuracale, about 2 km from the centre, with a central tower about 11 metres high, an outer wall and corner towers. Also worth a visit are nuraghe Abbaudi, next to domus de janas (rock-cut tombs) and a ruined village, and the giants' tombs of Pedras Doladas.

Things to do in Scano di Montiferro

Hiking in the Montiferru: trails through holm oaks, oaks and strawberry trees, up to the s'Istrampu de Alere waterfall in the woods.
Parco degli uccelli: a nature park with donkeys, Giara ponies, fallow deer, mouflon and many birds, perfect with kids.
Olive oil tastings: the village's extra virgin oil has won many awards.

To experience the Montiferru with people who really know it, browse the experiences offered by local operators just below.

History

Inhabited since the Neolithic and densely settled in the Nuragic age, the area looked to nearby Gurulis Nova (today's Cuglieri) in Punic and Roman times. In the Middle Ages Scano belonged to the Giudicato (medieval Sardinian kingdom) of Torres, with a Camaldolese monastery at San Pietro, then to the Giudicato of Arborea until 1410. From 1417 it was part of the barony of Montiferro and later shared the fate of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Food and shopping

The local star is extra virgin olive oil from the Montiferru. Honey, local wine and sheep's cheeses from the pastoral tradition also make great souvenirs.

Festivals and traditions

Sant'Antonio abate in mid-January, with a huge bonfire.
Carnival, with the archaic mask of s'Ainu Orriadore.
Holy Week, with rites accompanied by su cuncordu, traditional polyphonic singing.
Sant'Antioco, with processions the week after Easter and in late August.
San Pietro, the big feast of late June, and sa festa 'e totta 'idda, the whole-village festival held every four years.

Nearby

Cuglieri, with its hilltop basilica, and the coast of Santa Caterina di Pittinuri.
Bosa, about 18 km away, with Malaspina castle and the Temo river.
Santu Lussurgiu, in the heart of the Montiferru.
Macomer and nuraghe Santa Barbara, about 18 km away.

Getting there and when to go

The closest airport is Alghero-Fertilia, about an hour and a quarter by car; Cagliari-Elmas is roughly an hour and a half to two hours via the SS131 towards Macomer. The handiest ferry port is Porto Torres. Spring and autumn are ideal for walking and visiting sites; summer lets you pair the village with the Planargia beaches.